April 24, 2007

RM17.12 Million In Aid To Treat Chronic Diseases

KUALA LUMPUR, April 23 (Bernama) — The Medical Aid Fund (TBP) had approved RM17.12 million to assist 1,199 patients with chronic diseases to pay for their treatment since its inception in 2005 till the end of last year, the Dewan Rakyat was told Monday.
Health Ministry Parliamentary Secretary Datuk Lee Kah Choon said the Federal Territory topped the list with 234 recipients followed by Selangor (226), and Kelantan and Sarawak (122 each).
The applications were processed between one week and six weeks, he said when responding to a question from Datuk Shaari Hassan (BN-Tanah Merah).
On a suggestion that the fund management beef up its manpower, Lee said the ministry had to ensure that the fund was not misused while speeding up the distribution of aid to deserving cases.
“The applications are vetted by a technical medical committee which will discuss with the specialists on the kind of treatment or medical equipment required to treat the cases.”
Replying to a supplementary question from Junaidy Abd Wahab (BN-Batu Pahat), Lee said the government had approved a RM50 subsidy for a mammogram for early detection of breast cancer and this was being managed by the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry.
“We are helping women who could not afford to pay for the check-up by introducing the subsidy,” he added.